1998 Jaguar Xjr problems

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The Jaguar XJ (X308) is a full-size luxury saloon car manufactured and marketed by Jaguar Cars for years 1997–2003 across two generations and featuring the Jaguar AJ-V8 engine and Jaguar independent rear suspension. It was the third and final evolution of the Jaguar XJ40 platform that had been in production since 1986. It was preceded by the Jaguar XJ (X300).

Exterior

The X308 kept much of the same exterior styling as its predecessor, the Jaguar XJ (X300), carrying its rounded four-headlamp bonnet, low roofline, sloping tail, and wrap-around rear light clusters. From the front, the two generations can be differentiated by the shape of the indicator lenses (rectangular on the X300, oval on the X308), and also by the shape of the fog lamps and lower valance air intake, both of which are more rounded on the X308.

The front and rear bumpers were both changed along with the taillights which had red/clear lenses rather than red/grey lenses. The grille surround and badging was slightly changed. The headlight fixtures also included forward parking lights housed with the brights, new to X308.

1998 Jaguar Xjr

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Common 1998 Jaguar Xjr problems

The Jaguar XJR, particularly the 1998 model, has been known to have several common problems that owners have reported. One of the most frequently mentioned issues is related to the throttle. Some 1998 Jaguar XJRs had problems with throttles not opening properly. This can lead to various driveability issues and may require a thorough inspection and possible replacement of the throttle body or related components.

Another significant issue is related to the transmission. Some 1999 XJs had transmission glitches that caused them to lock up. This can be a serious problem, as it can lead to a complete loss of drive or even an accident. It's essential to have the transmission checked and serviced regularly to avoid this issue.

The front suspension bushes on the Jaguar XJR need to be replaced every 25,000 miles. This is a relatively common issue and can lead to poor handling and ride quality if not addressed promptly. It's essential to keep up with regular maintenance and inspections to ensure that the suspension bushes are in good condition.

The brakes on the Jaguar XJR, particularly on the XJR model, need to be in good order. This is a critical safety feature, and any issues with the brakes should be addressed promptly. It's essential to have the brakes inspected regularly and to replace any worn or damaged components as necessary.

The X308 cars (1998-2003) have a lot more issues compared to the X300 cars (1995-1997). This issue was rectified with a recall, but it's essential to ensure that any affected engines have been replaced or repaired accordingly.

The transmission on the X308 cars is a Mercedes 5-speed G tronic (W5A580) and is 'sealed for life.' This means that they can crap out at 100,000 miles unless the owner had been changing fluid every 30,000 miles. It's essential to have the transmission fluid checked and changed regularly to avoid this issue.

The timing chain issues are a significant concern on the X308 models.

In summary, the Jaguar XJR, particularly the 1998 model, has several common problems that owners have reported. These include issues with the throttle, transmission, suspension bushes, brakes, and timing chain. It's essential to keep up with regular maintenance and inspections to ensure that these issues are addressed promptly and to avoid any potential safety hazards.

1998 Jaguar Xjr engine

What problems did the 1998 Jaguar XJ have?

1998 XJs had problems with throttles not opening properly, and some 1999 cars had transmission glitches that caused them to lock up. You should also check - or get someone else to check - that the throttle is not fouling the underbonnet liner and that the power steering pipe is not chafing the alternator terminals.

Are 1998 Jaguars reliable?

The best car i`ve had the pleasue to own

I find myself smiling every minute i drive this car. It is very dependable and i find, easy to maintain. When repairs are needed, shop around, Jaguar parts are no more costly than anyone else.

How much is a 1998 Jaguar XJR worth?

The value of a used 1998 Jaguar XJR ranges from $1,532 to $4,878, based on vehicle condition, mileage, and options.

Are Jaguar XJR rare?

Only five LM-spec cars were built, while road-legal XJR-15 production came in at 27 units. Come 2023 and the XJR-15 is a million-dollar classic with low mileage on the odometer.

1998 Jaguar Xjr car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Jaguar Xjr problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Engine and engine cooling problems
  • Air bags problems
  • Seats problems
  • Power train problems
  • Fuel system problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1998 Jaguar Xjr vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1998 Jaguar Xjr complaints

The NHTSA has received 9 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1998 Jaguar Xjr.

2016-05-28

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2012-05-29
  • Number Of Injuries: 1
  • VIN: SAJPX1846WC
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: MAY 29, 2012 AIRBAG DEPLOYED AS CAR WAS BEING UNLOCKED IN A PARKING LOT. VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING, MERELY BEING UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY FOB, AS I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER, THE AIRBAG OF THE DRIVERS SIDE, EMBEDDED IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, BLEW, STRIKING ME IN THE HEAD AND BAGGING MY HEAD AGAINST THE OUTER EDGE OF THE DOOR OPENING. IT IS BELIEVED THAT I PASSED OUT, THEN CAME TO AND WAS FOUND LEANING AGAINST THE CAR. I COULD NOT WORK FOR A WEEK DUE TO HEADACHES AND THE IMPACT CRACKED A TOOTH. PEERLESS INSURANCE DENIED MY DAMAGE CLAIM, STATING WEAR AND TEAR AND LACK OF MAINTENANCE. I CAN FURNISH THE CLAIM NUMBER. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY A DEALERSHIP AND HAD A CLEAN CARFAX WHEN PURCHASED IN2004 WITH 58000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENT. THE SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED, IN EXCESS OF $1800. THE CAR IS MY DAILY DRIVER, MY DAILY COMMUTE IS UNDER TWO MILES. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT LISTED IN THE TAKATA RECALL, BUT WHEN IT APPEARED IN THE NEWS, I WANTED TO REPORT THIS.
2013-11-07

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2012-05-29
  • Number Of Injuries: 1
  • VIN: SAJPX1846WC
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 JAGUAR XJR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE OPENED THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR AND THE SEAT CUSHION AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AND KNOCKED HER TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT LOST SEVERAL TEETH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AIR BAG WIRE WAS CHAFED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
2012-06-22

SEATS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2011-07-08
  • VIN: SAJPX1848WC
  • Components: SEATS
  • Summary: SEAT SUPPORT BRACKET (DRIVER SIDE RIGHT REAR) CRACKED IN HALF CAUSING SEAT TO SHIFT SUDDENLY. CAUSING DRIVER TO MAKE UNINTENDED STEERING INPUTS. SECOND OCCURRENCE SAME AS ABOVE EXCEPT LEFT REAR BRACKET CRACKED IN HALF ON JUNE 10, 2012 *TT
2004-04-19

SEATS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2004-03-19
  • VIN: SAJPX1847WC
  • Components: SEATS
  • Summary: WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SIDE SEAT ATTACHMENT BROKE AT THE LEFT REAR. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE SEAT TILTED TO THE LIFT SIDE OF THE DOOR. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SEAT TRACK AND ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES.*AK
2003-11-03

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2003-09-26
  • VIN: SAJPX1842WC
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING.*MR (NAR) *CB
2003-10-15

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2003-09-27
  • VIN: SAJPX1842WC
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: CAR LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY. ALL WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING RED. *LA
2002-11-08

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2002-10-16
  • VIN: SAJP1847WC8
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: CONSUMER STATES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#99V138000 POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. TS
2001-08-23

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • VIN: NOT AVAILAB
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: WHEN DRIVING 55-60 MPH ON HIGHWAYVEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CLEANED BREATHER SYSTEM WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
2001-06-22

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2001-01-01
  • VIN: SAJHX1243WC
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
  • Summary: WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER DURING ACCELERATION WHILE IN TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND CLEANED THROTTLE IN VEHICLE. PROBLEM REPEATED ITSELF WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP REPLACED AN UNKNOWN COMPONENT IN THROTTLE CONTROL, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER VEHICLES. *AK WHILE DRIVING THE SECOND TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ENGAGED, HOWEVER WHEN TURNING IT OFF, THE VEHICLE STALLED, DEALER STATES HE HAS BEEN REPLACING THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY ON MANY CARS DUE TO THIS DEFECT, WHEN VEHICLE DID STALL, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE MOTOR, RESTART IT AND IT WOULD WORK AGAIN. CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERABLE DUE TO A BLOWN FUSE. *SLC

1998 Jaguar Xjr recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1998 Jaguar Xjr.

2006-05-19
  • Manufacturer: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
  • Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
  • Summary: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
  • Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
  • Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

Positive 1998 Jaguar Xjr car reviews

  1. Gregg Stoltenberg 2024-11-25

    Hi there! I've been the owner of this car since 1998. It's in mint condition and has never been in an accident or had any external or internal damage. It's in perfect operation!

  2. Roman Hegmann 2024-10-13

    You must maintain the car. I always did everything before it was critical or even necessary. Synthetic oil is recommended for this car. Also, the supercharged V8 is a fantastic work of art.

  3. Everett Lang 2024-05-02

    You'll definitely turn heads with its sleek black color, especially when it's clean. Plus, it's got immense power and performs superbly on the highway.

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1998 Jaguar Xjr problems:

What's the most common problems in a 98-01 XJ8 - Jaguar Forums ...
What's the most common problems in a 98-01 XJ8 - Jaguar Forums ...
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj-xj8-xjr-x308-27/whats-most-common-problems-98-01-xj8-76082/

Jul 1, 2012 ... Going from an XJ6 to an XJ8 or an XJR is going to be night and day difference. Same with going from an XJ8 to an X-type. ... (2)The plastic ...

1998 Jaguar XJ8 Problems and Complaints - 3 Issues
1998 Jaguar XJ8 Problems and Complaints - 3 Issues
https://repairpal.com/1998-jaguar-xj8/problems

Top 1998 Jaguar XJ8 Problems · Center Arm Rest Cup Holder May Break. 63 people have reported this. 24 · Plastic Timing Chain Tensioners May Fail and Cause ...

Looking to buy a 1998-03 XJR whats the best year and what ...
Looking to buy a 1998-03 XJR whats the best year and what ...
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj-xj8-xjr-x308-27/looking-buy-1998-03-xjr-whats-best-year-what-problems-do-these-cars-commonly-have-1354/

Apr 8, 2007 ... ... engine, jaguar, nikasil, nonadaptive, problems, reliability, shock, shocks, wats, xj8, xjr, xjs · Subscribe. Related Topics. Troubleshooting ...

Thoughts on 1998-2002 Jag XJ? : r/Jaguar
Thoughts on 1998-2002 Jag XJ? : r/Jaguar
https://www.reddit.com/r/Jaguar/comments/1yhyg1/thoughts_on_19982002_jag_xj/

Feb 21, 2014 ... Thoughts on 1998-2002 Jag XJ? Realistically, am I going to be paying outrageous (and frequent) sums for parts on an X308 Jag XJ? ... problem. I ...

01' XJR supercharged reliability questions I need some imput ...
01' XJR supercharged reliability questions I need some imput ...
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj-xj8-xjr-x308-27/01-xjr-supercharged-reliability-questions-i-need-some-imput-please-94237/

Apr 25, 2013 ... Let me ask you guys this, as far as the 98's -2003's which member here has the most miles on their Jag? I'd like to know over the years and ...

Other years of Jaguar Xjr

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Xjr 1999
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jaguar xjr 2001 photo
Xjr 2001
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Xjr 2002
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Xjr 2004
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Xjr 2005
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1998 Jaguar Xjr photo